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underwent vow of repentance and once again observed the holy path following the principles of temperance.
Administration of congregation after Pontiff Suhast
c rya Suhast did a remarkable service to the congregation during his pontificate, and his tenure is an embodiment of all-round development both in the congregation and in the religion. Nearly for 300 years right from rya Sudharm to rya Mah giri and rya Sushati, the Jain Order was administered & safeguarded efficiently by all the c ryas only.
Apart from c ryas, there was the mention of other ranks in the scriptures such as Up dhy ya, Ga i, Ga avachedaka, Sthavira, preacher (Pravartaka) etc. However, except for crya, Ga adhara and Sthavira there is no mention of any other rank or their activities, right from the T rthamkara era till pontiff c rya Mah giri.
The sub-divisions like lineage, Ga a and branches started originating, since the period of c rya Ya obhadra. But due to the influence of brilliant c ryas like Bhadrab hu and Sth labhadra, differences of opinion could not arise in the rama a congregation. rya Mah giri and
rya Suhast also did not allow any divisions, and competently maintained the unity of Jain order.
The three ranks of group- c rya, discourse- c rya and epochal- c rya were created and their duties and powers were clearly demarcated so as to prevent any minor difference in the traditions, from transforming into a gigantic form and to protect the pure doctrines of ruta dharma and the principles of conduct from being destroyed either totally or partially in future. As a result, the following three traditions came into existence:
1.
Ga adhara lineage: The leader of the Ga a should take care of the Ga a and act as a teacher and ensure that the Guru-disciple tradition was followed strictly. This tradition and rank has been continuing till date. The current Ga apatis are regarded as the vestige of it. Descriptive scholar lineage: the monks who were proficient in all the pious traditions of canonical literature and knowledge and could recite and explain the meaning efficiently was considered
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